Last reviewed and updated: July 2026 by a CPSA-registered physician
Need a sick note in Alberta? MedLetter is Alberta's most trusted online sick note service — connecting you with a CPSA-registered physician who reviews your symptoms and issues an official sick note without a video call, phone call, or clinic visit. Whether you need a sick note in Alberta for work, school, or personal leave, our process takes under 5 minutes and your signed document is delivered same day. We serve all Alberta cities including Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, and over 100 rural communities.
Alberta has a significant healthcare access problem. Over 800,000 Albertans lack a family doctor, walk-in clinic wait times average 3-5 hours in major cities, and many rural communities have no walk-in clinic at all. Getting a simple sick note shouldn't mean losing an entire day of rest when you're already unwell. Online sick notes solve this problem by allowing you to get legitimate medical documentation from your phone, couch, or bed — exactly where you should be when you're sick.
An online sick note is an official medical document issued by a licensed physician through a virtual healthcare platform. In Alberta, these notes carry the same legal weight as notes issued in person at a clinic. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) recognizes virtual care as a legitimate form of medical practice, and Alberta Employment Standards do not distinguish between in-person and virtual sick notes. Your employer cannot legally reject a sick note solely because it was issued online.
Yes, online sick notes are fully legal in Alberta. The Alberta Employment Standards Code requires only that a medical certificate be issued by a qualified medical practitioner — it does not specify that the consultation must be in person. The CPSA's Standards of Practice for Virtual Care confirm that Alberta physicians may provide medical documentation through virtual consultations. Additionally, the Alberta Human Rights Commission has confirmed that employers cannot discriminate based on the method of healthcare delivery. If your employer has questions, our notes include the physician's CPSA registration number for verification.
Online sick notes from CPSA-registered physicians are accepted by virtually all Alberta employers, schools, and institutions. This includes major employers like Alberta Health Services, the City of Calgary, the City of Edmonton, Suncor, CNRL, WestJet, Shaw Communications, and thousands of small businesses. All Alberta post-secondary institutions including the University of Calgary, University of Alberta, Mount Royal University, SAIT, NAIT, and MacEwan University accept online medical documentation. Insurance companies, WCB Alberta, and Service Canada (for EI Sickness Benefits) also accept these notes.
The biggest difference between getting a sick note online versus at a walk-in clinic is time and convenience. Walk-in clinics in Calgary and Edmonton average 3-5 hour wait times, require you to physically travel while sick, and often have limited hours. Online sick notes can be obtained from your phone in minutes, are available 24/7, and cost the same or less than many walk-in clinic fees for uninsured services like sick notes.
MedLetter charges a flat fee of $49 for a sick note — no hidden costs, no consultation fee on top. This is competitive with or cheaper than most alternatives. Walk-in clinics charge $20-$100 for sick notes (plus your time waiting 3-5 hours). Maple charges $49-$69 and requires a video call. Tia Health is free through Alberta Health Care but has extremely limited availability and long wait times. Rocket Doctor charges $20-$50 but requires a video consultation. MedLetter is the only service that doesn't require any call — video or phone — making it the fastest option available.
Every MedLetter sick note is delivered same day. Our typical turnaround is same day from submission. You can submit your request at any time — including evenings, nights, and weekends — and receive your signed note the same day. This makes us ideal for situations where you need documentation quickly: you woke up sick before a shift, your employer is asking for a note today, or you have a school deadline approaching.
Your MedLetter sick note is a professional medical document printed on official letterhead. It includes everything Alberta employers and schools require while protecting your privacy under the Health Information Act (HIA).
MedLetter issues sick notes for a wide range of common conditions. You don't need a specific diagnosis to get a sick note — if you're unwell and unable to work or attend school, you likely qualify. Common conditions include cold and flu, back pain, anxiety, migraines, stomach flu, depression, COVID-19, injuries, menstrual pain, dental recovery, allergies, insomnia, surgery recovery, and pregnancy-related illness.
MedLetter serves all of Alberta. Whether you're in a major city or a rural community, you can get a same day sick note online. We have dedicated pages for each major Alberta city with local information about healthcare access, wait times, and employer policies.
| Provider | Price | Wait Time | Video Required | Alberta Physician | Same Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MedLetter | $49 | same day | No | Yes (CPSA) | Yes |
| Walk-In Clinic | $20-$100 | 3-5 hours | In-person | Yes | Maybe |
| Maple | $49-$69 | Minutes-hours | Yes | Sometimes | Yes |
| Tia Health | $30+ (limited) | Days-weeks | Yes | Yes | No |
| Rocket Doctor | $20-$50 | Hours | Yes | Yes | Usually |
| TelePlus Care | $30-$55 | 1-3 hours | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medinote | $39-$59 | same day | No | Varies | Yes |
Under Alberta's Employment Standards Code (Section 53.982), employees are entitled to up to 5 days of job-protected personal and family responsibility leave per year. While employers can request medical documentation for absences, the legislation does not specify that the documentation must come from an in-person visit. The CPSA's Standards of Practice for Virtual Care (updated 2024) explicitly authorize Alberta physicians to provide medical documentation through virtual consultations, provided they exercise appropriate clinical judgment.
Yes. Online sick notes issued by CPSA-registered physicians are fully valid under Alberta law. The Employment Standards Code does not require in-person consultations, and the CPSA explicitly authorizes virtual care documentation.
No. Alberta employers cannot legally reject a sick note solely because it was issued through a virtual consultation. The note is signed by a CPSA-registered physician and carries the same legal weight as one from a walk-in clinic.
MedLetter delivers sick notes same day of submission. You can submit your request 24/7, including evenings and weekends. The online form takes under 5 minutes to complete.
Not with MedLetter. Unlike Maple, Tia Health, and Rocket Doctor, we don't require a video or phone call. You complete a secure online form and a physician reviews your submission directly.
MedLetter charges $49 flat — no hidden fees. Walk-in clinics charge $20-$100 plus 3-5 hours of your time. Maple charges $49-$69 with a required video call. Tia Health is free but has weeks-long wait times.
Yes. Every MedLetter sick note is delivered same day, typically same day. Submit anytime — including nights and weekends — and receive your signed note the same day.
Your note includes: official letterhead, your name, date of assessment, confirmation of medical assessment, recommended absence dates, expected return date, physician name, CPSA registration number, and signature.
No. MedLetter does not require you to have a family doctor. Over 800,000 Albertans lack a family doctor — our service exists specifically to fill this gap.
Yes. MedLetter is fully compliant with Alberta's Health Information Act (HIA) and PIPEDA. Your health information is encrypted, stored securely, and never shared without your consent.
MedLetter can issue notes for recent illness (within the past few days) if medically appropriate. The physician will use their clinical judgment to determine the appropriate dates.
Yes. All Alberta post-secondary institutions accept online sick notes from licensed physicians, including University of Calgary, University of Alberta, SAIT, NAIT, Mount Royal, MacEwan, and all others.
No. Under Alberta Employment Standards, you cannot be terminated solely for taking legitimate sick leave with proper medical documentation. A sick note from a CPSA-registered physician — whether obtained online or in person — provides the same legal protection. If you believe you were fired for using sick leave, you may file a complaint with Alberta Employment Standards or the Human Rights Commission.
Part-time employees have the same rights as full-time employees under Alberta Employment Standards. If your employer's policy requires a sick note for absences, this applies regardless of whether you work full-time or part-time. MedLetter provides sick notes for all Alberta workers including part-time, casual, and contract employees.
A sick note is valid for the dates specified on the document. There is no expiration date on the note itself — it remains a permanent record of your medical assessment. However, if your absence extends beyond the dates on the original note, you may need an updated note. MedLetter can provide extension notes for $49.
Yes. Service Canada accepts medical documentation from CPSA-registered physicians for EI Sickness Benefit applications. Your MedLetter note confirms your inability to work due to illness, which is the core requirement for EI Sickness Benefits (up to 26 weeks of benefits at 55% of insurable earnings).
For workplace injuries, WCB Alberta requires specific forms (WCB Physician's First Report). However, for non-workplace illness, a standard sick note from a CPSA-registered physician is accepted. If you need WCB-specific documentation, contact us and we can advise on the appropriate service.
Yes. MedLetter does not bill Alberta Health Care — our $49 fee is a direct payment. You do not need an Alberta Health Care card, OHIP, or any provincial health insurance to use our service. This makes us ideal for new Alberta residents, temporary workers, international students, and anyone without active health coverage.
If your employer questions the legitimacy of your note, they can verify the physician's CPSA registration number directly with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta. Our notes include full contact information for verification. In our experience, fewer than 1% of notes are ever questioned, and all are verified successfully.
MedLetter primarily issues sick notes for adults (18+) for work and post-secondary school absences. For children's school absences, most Alberta school boards accept a parent's written note for short absences. For extended absences, contact us to discuss options for pediatric documentation.
It depends on your employer's policy. Alberta law does not set a minimum number of sick days before a note can be required. Some employers require a note for any absence, while others only require one after 3+ days. Check your employee handbook or ask HR. If a note is required, MedLetter provides delivery same day for $49.
Yes. MedLetter accepts submissions 24/7/365, including all statutory holidays (Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.). Holiday submissions receive delivery same day.
Yes. Both are official medical documents issued by CPSA-registered physicians. The only difference is the method of consultation — MedLetter uses a secure online form instead of an in-person visit. The legal validity, format, and acceptance are identical.
Yes. You can request a new sick note each time you are ill. Each request is $49 and is reviewed independently by a CPSA-registered physician. There is no limit on how many notes you can request over time.
MedLetter can issue sick notes for absences up to 2 weeks. For longer absences (stress leave, extended illness), we offer extended absence notes ($79) and workplace accommodation letters ($149). As of January 2026, Alberta provides up to 27 weeks of job-protected long-term illness leave.
Your employer can verify the physician's CPSA registration number, but they cannot access your medical records or details of your consultation without your written consent. The Health Information Act strictly protects patient-physician confidentiality regardless of whether the consultation was virtual or in-person.
“I was sick with the flu and couldn't imagine sitting in a walk-in for 4 hours. Had my note in 2 hours from my couch.” — Sarah M., Calgary
“No family doctor, no problem. MedLetter got me a legitimate sick note same day. My employer accepted it without question.” — James K., Edmonton
“As a student at U of A, I needed a note for a deferred exam. Got it in 3 hours without leaving my dorm.” — Priya S., Edmonton
Get Your Online Sick Note — $49